February 17

260
LENIN COLLECTION

It is necessary to accept his proposal* and immediately

1) work out a decree draft on
   a) the obligatory organization of agricultural economy in cities (all of them);
   b) on measures for strengthening and development;
   c) give assignments (in greater detail) in this field for 1920 and so forth;

2) intensify the purchase of seeds in Denmark and abroad generally;

3) intensify agitation and workers' control regarding measures in § 1.

I request that you send me a brief summary of what is already being done (if possible, in such form that it could also be published — we will run it in *Ekonomicheskaya Zhizn'* if it doesn't work out in *Pravda* or *Izvestia*).

In connection with this, it is necessary to begin intensified and more systematic struggle against suburban bag-smuggling by drawing in city workers to keep detailed records of sowing, reserves, surpluses, collection of foodstuffs in suburban districts and assisting the organs of the Commissariat of Food to extract them. I request that the Commissariat of Food inform me what measures are being undertaken.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

29121
MEMORANDUM TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSAR OF FOOD
February 17, 1920

Gorky passed these papers** to me, assuring me that Goldin is an inexperienced boy, so to speak.

* The article proposed, for the purpose of improving workers' provisioning, to utilize suburban land areas for the development of collective market-gardening and animal husbandry, and the organization of auxiliary farms.

** This concerns the following order issued by Goldin, the Tambov gubernia food commissar: "To all receivers, all contractors. Make it the obligatory duty of those in charge of grain-receiving points to strictly monitor the method of storage and the quality of grain. At the first instance of grain spoilage, the manager of the grain-receiving point will be shot, the receiver will be turned over to the Gubernia Cheka."

This unlawful order provoked numerous complaints. In connection with Lenin's inquiry, the deputy food commissar gave the following instruction to the Tambov gubernia food commissar: "Immediately report whether this order has been carried out in even a single instance. In issuing it, you exceeded your authority... What real practical measures have you undertaken in order to control the acceptance of grain and prevent cases of the delivery of raw grain, and also in order to control the storage of grain and bring it to a quality ensuring its prolonged storage. Reply immediately to me, with a copy to the Council of Defense and Lenin."

These are, they say, kulaks maliciously putting snow in the grain: neither for us nor for you. So that it burns.

Please telephone me your conclusion: what ought to be done and what have you done?

With communist greetings

Lenin

4785
TELEGRAM TO G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE
Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasus Front*
February 17, 1920

Extremely concerned about the condition of our troops on the Caucasus Front, the complete decomposition at Budyonny's, the weakening of all our forces, the weakness of overall command, disputes between armies, the strengthening of the opponent. It is necessary to strain all forces and implement a series of emergency measures with revolutionary energy. Telegraph in detail in cipher exactly what measures you are undertaking.

Lenin

37454
TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE PETROGRAD LABOR ARMY
February 17, 1920

Given the conditions of transport, the labor army must be considered also as a reserve of the Chief Command; therefore, we cannot refuse to detach a division from the army for combat missions until

* In the margins of the original, written in V. I. Lenin's hand, there is his addition: "all in cipher."